Top Things to Do in Minneapolis

The larger of the Twin Cities does everything on a grand scale. It has more theater seats per capita than any city outside New York, it has the largest mall in America, and its miles of trails trace the second-longest river in America—the Mississippi. Check out our guide for what to do, where to eat and where to stay.

Target Field Families pack the downtown stadium to cheer on the Minnesota Twins while savoring local fare like polish sausages from Kramarczuk’s. Kids 14 and under get a thrill from running the bases after Sunday games. mlb.com[7]

Weisman Art Museum Frank Gehry’s gleaming silver building houses the University of Minnesota’s collection of more than 20,000 objects, including numerous pieces of American modernism. weisman.umn.edu[11]

Weisman Art Museum

Eat

112 Eatery A cheeseburger and an egg sandwich appear on the menu next to creative dishes like Chinese fried eggs. 112eatery.com[12]

The Bachelor Farmer A rooftop garden produces veggies that show up in items such as toast with shaved pork pastrami and fresh cow’s milk cheese. thebachelorfarmer.com[13]

Borough For lunch it's hard to beat the Parlour Burger, a mix of ribeye, brisket and sirloin. Dinner in the former warehouse building goes fancy with choices like octopus, veal and duck. boroughmpls.com[15]

Borough

Butcher and the Boar German classics get modern updates, such as a Berkshire pork chop with hard cider sauce. butcherandtheboar.com[16]

Hell’s Kitchen You can’t go wrong with anything at this underground joint known for its Mahnomin porridge (wild rice, cream, berries and hazelnuts). hellskitcheninc.com[17]

Smack Shack Go all out with the lobster boil: a whole lobster with corn on the cob, Polish sausage, red potatoes, coleslaw and milk bread. smack-shack.com[25]

Spoon and Stable James Beard Award-winner Gavin Kaysen churns out classic French cuisine made with seasonal Midwest ingredients, like baby beet tartine with fresh goat cheese, shallot marmalade and bee pollen. Two-story-tall brick walls, large windows and skylights brighten the former horse stable in the North Loop. A lovely final touch: A tin of petits fours arrives with the check. spoonandstable.com[26]

Surly Brewing Company You might have to wait for a seat in the cavernous beer hall, but it’s worth it for beers like the hoppy Surly Furious and top-notch pub food. surlybrewing.com[27]

Spoon and Stable

Travail Kitchen and Amusements Music thumps and chefs cheer when the doors open for the 5 p.m. seating of the nearly three-hour culinary masterpiece at this Robbinsdale restaurant. Chefs prepare at least 10 courses and on some nights parade past guests to dole out avocado mousse and hot-pepper macaroni accompanied by a symphonic soundtrack. travailkitchen.com[28]

Stay

Alma Seven rooms in a historic building come with handwoven vintage rugs and custom furniture made from local white oak. Round out your stay with contemporary American dishes at the casual Cafe Alma, or the prix fixe, dinner-only Restaurant Alma. almampls.com[29]

Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis The owner’s art collection adorns guest rooms at this boutique hotel in the heart of the theater district and near Nicollet Mall. lemeridien.com/chambers[33]

Loews Minneapolis Hotel This super-luxe hotel spares no detail, even when it comes to pets. Four-legged family members dine on gourmet room service. loewshotels.com[34]

Radisson Blu Mall of AmericaA lobby awash in a blue glow welcomes guests to this hotel attached to the Mall of America. A spa and indoor saltwater pool offer a soothing break from shopping.radissonblu.com[35]